Representation matters
The Black in Business event series is coordinated by student-workers and staff at the Tippie College of Business, each committed to providing a safe and inclusive space for students to thrive and grow professionally.
Our programming advocates for representation inside and outside the classroom. Free and open to all Iowa students, the Black in Business Series represents multiple industries, including business, engineering, entrepreneurship, the arts, media, journalism, sports, education, non-profit, and more.
If you’re interested in understanding business from the perspective of Black professionals, discovering your inner entrepreneur, and being empowered to succeed as a business-minded student, don’t miss our next event.
Ignite your interests at our annual Networking Dinner
This RSVP-only signature event serves as a platform for students to connect with industry professionals in their fields of interest and hear success stories! Attendees get a fun/professional networking event where they can meet other students, Tippie staff and faculty, and professionals from a variety of industries. Join us to:
- See representation from professionals across industries.
- Discover mentorship from business leaders in their fields of interest.
- Explore potential career/internship opportunities.
Networking Dinners are held each February in celebration of Black History Month. There will be guest speakers and a free professionally catered dinner, including appetizers and mocktails. Past guests have included:
- Duane Wilson -- Executive Director at Junior Achievement of Northern California
- Mary Meyers – Writer/Speaker at Bold Mary
- Hannah Hendricks – Investment Banking Associate at Goldman Sachs
- Meganne Robinson -- Consulting Manager at Deloitte
- Ahmed Ismail -- Software Engineer at Capital One
- Kimmi Chexnayder -- On-Air Host & Personality at the National Football League (NFL)
- Rita Guzmán -- Enrollment Advisor at All Campus (Tippie Young Alumni Board member)
- Stephen Belyn -- Managing Director at FTI Consulting
- Myran Brewer -- Founder at C.O.P.E. Apparel LLC (and Treasury and Payment Solutions Analyst at BMO Financial Group)
- Raina Harmon -- CEO and Owner at Unified Ballers, LLC (and Assistant Women’s Basketball Coach at University of Iowa)
- And many more...
We hope to see you at our next Networking Dinner. For more information and to inquire about how to RSVP, please email Tevin Robbins at tevin-robbins@uiowa.edu.
What does being Black in Business mean to you?
Meet Sire Abram
“I would say true passion. Being Black in business comes with a lot of adversity and you have to truly be passionate about it to succeed.”
Meet Kethia Mulongo
“Seeing the difference in the room, the lack of black people in the business world. Where I don't see a lot of people who look like me, who don't have the same identity. Opening a room or creating a positive thing where you see a lot of black people in the business world. I could use that as an opportunity to create a business for me and for people like me.”
Meet Morgan Conrad
“I’d say creative. You gotta be able to maneuver your way through things. And sometimes that, that means you have to do unorthodox things to get you to where your goals and objectives are. I've been blessed for that to be an opportunity and it's opened a lot of doors for me to pave my way to my goals.”
Meet Noella Kabula
“I consider being black in business a journey. Where it has its ups and downs because it can be challenging and difficult to fit in as a minority. At the same time that challenge is necessary because it allows me to step out of my comfort zone and succeed.”
Join the Black in Business network
Our LinkedIn network is the place to stay connected for the latest information and dialogue for the Black community around issues of higher education, business, and entrepreneurship.
Learn from Black professionals, discover your inner entrepreneur, and be empowered. You don't have to be a business major to join, as we encourage you to see that anything you do in your profession can be seen as a business.
Support our mission
Black in Business programming is delivered at no cost to our student participants and relies on the support of generous donors who wish to support the future of Black business students. Make a gift to Black in Business via the Tippie Undergraduate Program Fund. Your donation will be used for the intended purpose.
Contact us
Tevin Robbins
Associate Director, Tippie Student Engagement & Leadership Development
tevin-robbins@uiowa.edu
319-335-1037